Know All about the Varieties of Canna Lily

If surrounding yourself with colors makes you feel happy, then canna is the right path to gain happiness. Canna lilies are among the most colorful summer bulbs. They grow in a huge variety, with flower colors ranging from vibrant reds and oranges to peaceful yellows and whites, and leaves in the hues of green and bronze. Buzzle gives you a glimpse of various canna flowers.

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Cannas are a traditional gift for Father's Day in Thailand.

Exotic and tropical, Canna is a genus of 19 species of flowering plants, and is the only genus in the family Cannaceae. It is actually cousins to bananas and gingers, having large paddle-shaped leaves in the shades of green and bronze. However, flowers are a major reason cannas are so expensive.

The name canna has originated from the Celtic word "reed" or "canes". They aren't true lilies. Cannas gained momentum in the Victorian times as garden plants and were grown widely in places like France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Canna Species

Canna species and cultivars dwell in temperate and subtropical regions and are widely grown in the garden. There are around 19 species in the wild form. These species have been categorized by two different taxonomists, viz., Paul Maas from the Netherlands and Nobuyuki Tanaka from Japan in the last three decades. Both reduced the number of species from the 50 to 100 that had been accepted previously, and assigned most to being synonyms.

Canna amabilis

Native region: Northern Argentina (Chaco)

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Deep crimson red to pale yellow flowers with many seeds.

Foliage: Large, spirally arranged

Height: 2 - 4 m

Canna bangii

Native region: Peru and Bolivia

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Orange-red, erect, 4-7 cm long

Foliage: Green

Height: 4 m

Canna coccinea

Native region: Northern Argentina

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Raspberry red flowers, orange or red staminodes

Foliage: Deep green

Height: 2 m

Canna compacta

Native region: Southern Brazil and Northern Argentina

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Dark orange-red erect flowers

Foliage: Lush green, medium-sized

Height: 2 m

Canna discolor | C. achiras | 'Brick Canna'

Native region: Northern Argentina

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Red, or hues of peach and white

Foliage: Green

Height: 3 m

Canna flaccida | Water Canna

Native region: Wetlands of southeastern USA

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Large, slightly perfumed, yellow

Foliage: Narrow; glaucous (blue-gray)

Height: 1.5 m

Canna glauca

Native region: Wetlands of tropical America

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Delicate, pale yellow, pale orange

Foliage: Glaucous leaves

Height: 1.5 m

Canna indica | Indian shot | Bandera

Native region: South-eastern United States

USDA Hardiness: Zone 10

Flowers: Magenta, scarlet, bright yellow

Foliage: Blue to burgundy, bronze-green, glaucous

Height: 0.5 - 2.5 m

*Note: The species Canna stenantha is a synonym of Canna glauca, and likewise, Canna plurituberosa is of Canna indica L.

A large number of ornamental cultivars have been developed. They can be used in tropical plantings, borders, and as a patio or decking plant.

Canna Apricot Dream

Canna Bengal Tiger

Canna Cleopatra

Canna Eureka

Canna Indian Shot

Canna Madame Crozy

Canna President

Canna Pretty Butterfly

Canna Queen Charlotte

Yellow Canna Italian

Cultivar

Flower Color

Foliage Color

Height (m)

Angel Pink

Translucent apricot and peach with slight yellow throat

Green

2½ - 3

Apricot Dream

Buff salmon with rose throat markings

Gray-green

2½ - 3

Bangkok Yellow

Red bud opens to clear yellow with white throat

Green with white striping

2 - 3

Bengal Tiger

Brilliant orange

Green with white stripping

5 - 6

Bittersweet

Light red-orange

Green

4

China Doll

Hot pink

Green

3

Cleopatra

Yellow with red speckles and streaks

Green, sometimes with purple streaks

3 - 5

Crimson Beauty

Crimson with faint yellow streak from throat

Green

3

Dawn Pink

Bright pink

Burgundy

2 - 3

Erebus

Salmon pink

Glacous green

3 - 4

Futurity Orange

Red-orange

Bronze

2½ - 3

Indian Shot

Peach with its lighter shades, white throat

Green

3 - 4

Intrigue

Smooth blending of red, orange, and yellow

Gray-green with brownish veins

2½ - 3

Louis Cotton

Light shades of yellow-orange

Bronze

2½ - 3

Madame Butterfly

Soft yellow, shaded pink

Green

3

New White

Creamy, almost white

Green

4 - 5

Orange Blush

Salmon pink

Green

3

Pacific Beauty

Pumpkin orange

Gray-purple

6

Picasso

Lemon yellow and white, spotted uniformly with blood red spots

Bright green

2 - 3

Pink Beauty

Pink petals with slightly gold edge

Green

3 - 4

Pretoria

Bright orange

Green and yellow foliage with red pencil edging

3 - 4

Red King Humbert

Red

Bronze red

6

Red Stripe

Small, bright red

Large; purple with green pattern between veins

3 - 4

Salmon Pink

Salmon Pink

Green

2 - 3

Taney

Orange - apricot salmon

Glaucous green

4 - 5

The President

Scarlet red

Green

3½ - 5

Tropicanna Gold

Orange or yellow

Green with gold stripes

3 - 5

Tropicanna Black

Tangerine

Purple-black

3 - 5

Valentine

Blood red

Green

2½

Wyoming

Bright orange

Green with brownish edge

6 - 9

With their reedy canes and palmy foliage, cannas would be wonderful even if they never bloomed. Decide upon the one that attracts you and fulfills the climatic criteria in your region. Grow canna lilies, and do tell us about your experience. Keep loving flowers!